Disappearing table



June l 1926.

G. M. MCLEAN DISAPPEARING TABLE Filed May 14. 1923 Patented .lune l,1926.

llldlrfli@ STAT GEORGE IVI. MCLEAN, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

, nrsArrEARrNe TABLE.

Appia-ation filed May 14, 132s. semi No. 638,719.

My invention relates to collapsible furniture and has for its object toprovide a disappearing and collapsible table which may be drawn out of acase made to resemble an.

t article of furniture commonly kept in a living or front room, wherebyan extension table of any desired length may be formed.

A further object is to provide a table which may be partially extendedto accommodate threev or more persons, and which may be further extendedwhen so desired and made to accommodate six or eight persons, and whennot so used as a table may be easily and quickly collapsed and kept in lcompact form within a case which outwardly resembles other articles offurniture, such as a commode or a dresser.

These objects, with others which will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, I accomplish with the apparatus illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which similar letters and numerals of referenceindicate like parts throughout the several Views, and as described inthe specification forming a part of this application and pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings in which I have shown a substantial embodiment of myinvention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the appara- 3@ tus whencollapsed within a case made to resemble a low mantel. Figure 2 is aside elevation of the apparatus showing the table partially` withdrawnfrom the case, and showing the top partially rolled upon itself, andwith a portion of the same top shown in dotted lines unrolled within thecase. Figure 3 is a plan view of the same. Figure 4 is a detail showingthe construction of one of the hinges and a portion of one leg of thetable as fastened on the hinged leaves. The invention consists of a caseA, shaped and otherwise constructed to resemble a mantel or otherarticle of furniture, having a mirror B in its upper portion. Fortionsof the front side are out out and within said case the table is mountedwhen collapsed. A cross piece C is fastened within and to the back ofsaid case A, and said cross piece is beveled outwardly and in 59"transverse curve, as at 1, to give direction to the table top when it isbeing rolled up` as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The said crosspiece C is also the rigid support to which one end of the table isdetachably fastened by suitable hooks 3 when the table is to be onlypartially extended. The table portion of my apparatus is shown as awhole at T, and consists of supporting legs 4, for all of the legsexcept those at thel corners which are preferably square in crosssection, J-

as shown at 5. All of said legs are provided with castors 6, and are allfastened operatively together by three coacting strings of hinge leaves.The two side strings, shown at 7 and 8, have their outer end portionsrigidly spaced apart and held in fixed relation to each other by thecross strips 9 of metal. The said legs 4 are riveted at their upper endsto said cross strips 9, and the outer end portions of the side stringsof hinged leaves 7 and 8 are pivoted to said strips 9, as may be seen inFigure 3. The leaves 7 and 8 are of a length that will allow the leavesto be folded close to each other and to the strips 9 alternately betweenpairs of said leaves, as shown in Figure 3, and to be drawn into astring or one plane when the table is fully extended. Below the saidstrings of leaves 7 and 8 is the horizontally disposed strings of otherleaf hinges l0, which leaves at alternate junctions are suspended fromsaid cross strips 9. One end strip 9 is rigidly connected with the crosspiece 11 which fastens the front legs 5 into one pair, while the otherend strip 9 may be detached from a said cross piece C, when so desired.The front legs 5 and said cross piece 11 and a hinge concealing member12 are covered on their front side by a thin piece of material with itsedges overlapping the joint between the front of said case A and saidlegs to give a proper finish at said joint, as shown at 18. A mantelmember 14 is fastened horizontally on the upper ends of the front legs 5and edge of the cross piece 11, by which the table T is drawn outwardlyfrom the case. The table top D is made of a plurality of flat strips 15placed side by side and held in fixed relation to each other by a pieceof flexible fabric 16, one end of which is fastened to said mantelmember 14. The edges of said strips 15 are slightly beveled in orderthat the top will be rolled up when the said table T is collapsed andpushed within the said case A, and will unroll when the table is drawnoutwardly. lVhen it is desired the rear ends of said string of hingedleaves may be released from the said cross piece C by releasing thehooks 17 which normally fasten the end cross strip 9 to said piece C.The said mirror B is hingedly connected to said case and may be moved onits hinges to alloTv the said hooks 1T to be operated. lVhen the saidhooks 17 are released the table T may be drawn without the ease and usedas any other deta'ch'ed table, the Weight and construction of the rollertop making a smooth, even surface for use as a table top on which dishesmay be used, and on which ironing, pressing and other household dutiesmay be performed.

Having thus described my invention I desire to seeure bvllette'rs Patentand'claim l. A disappearing table oomp'ri'singa ease having an openingin one side face; a eollapsible table frame with supporting legs thereonadapted to be operated through said opening; saidframe consisting ofthree ooaoting strings ol hingedlT connected leaves, theV outer tivo olWhioh are movable on horizontal planes, and the medial string' of saidleaves movable on vertical planes; and a top for said frame adapted tobe rolled up when said frame is collapsed and carried in said ease, andto be unrolled as a table top when the table frame is drawn partiallyorentirely from said case.

2. A disappearing` table comprising a frame'n'ith supporting legsthereunder, said frame consisting of a plurality of hinged membershaving vertically disposed pivot pins; oross strips to which the hingedmembers are secured; and a plurality of other hinged members, havingrhorizontall)v disposed pivot pins, operatively eonneoted with sai'dcross strips.

In testimony whereof I have allixed my signature.

GEORGE M. MCLEAN.

